Printing machines



p il 17, 1962 w. J. HAMPTON ETAL 3,029,726

PRINTING MACHINES l2 Sheets$heet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1958 Inventors William J.fiamptorz Carl J. fiueber w. J. HAMPTON ETAL 3,029,726

April 17, 1962 PRINTING MACHINES 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1958 Inventors William J. fi'amp'lfon Carl J iH'ueber A-Hrorrzeg April 1962 w. .1. HAMPTON ETAL 3,029,726

PRINTING MACHINES l2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1958 Inventors William. JJlampton.

Carl J. fllueber April 17, 1962 Filed Aug. 8, 1958 w. .1. HAMPTON ETAL 3,029,726

PRINTING MACHINES 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventors William Jfiampton Carl J.3'ltueber A-HcorneHS:

w. J. HAMPTON ETAL 3,029,726

April 17, 1962 PRINTING MACHINES Fi led Aug. 8, 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 lnverzfons will iam. J. ffl'ampfon Ca r] J. flue bar B Mailman/1 W fi-Hoinegs April 1962 w. J. HAMPTON ETAL 3,029,726

PRINTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 8, 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 57 Inveni-ors wflh'am. Jflfampl'on.

arl J- Tlueber 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 JH-L-ornggS wow 6 CNN EN 5 m r @N n M e 7/AI |V 4 W 1/6 t m T m PMN h H. QQN OMN MN OQN 1 m i H l m I NMN |H I l O m J wmw H WP PH. mew M m mmw wmu 63 C April 17, 1962 w. J. HAMPTON ETAL PRINTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 8, 1958 B ZUZLZPMQMM April 1962 w. J. HAMPTON ETAL 3,029,726

PRINTING MACHINES 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 8, 1958 H I a Q IIIIIIIIIII mm m if m fl e o em vae mflu i w w m April 17, 1962 w. J. HAMPTON ETAL 3,029,726

PRINTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 8, 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 MIN g/ ZOO Inventors 3 William. J. 'fl'nmptorz Carl J. i'lueber 52 444d M April 17, 1962 w. J. HAMPTON ETAL 3,029,726

PRINTING MACHINES Filed Aug. s, 1958 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 Inventor William J. fiamplon Carl J. Jlueber 53/ ZUZZZM aad W Mar-neg;

United States Patent "ice 3,029,726 PRINTING MACHINES William J. Hampton, South Euclid, and Carl J. Hueber, Euclid, Ohio, assignors to Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 753,922 19 Claims. (Cl. 101-58) through addressing machines and other printing machines. These devices, which are commonlyknown as sheet feeders, may utilize suction feed devices, friction feed apparatus, or many other different means for separating the individual sheets from a stack in order to feed the sheets one by one into the printing machine. At least some of the previously known feeders of this general kind, however, are not readily applicable to the feeding of relatively thick folded articles such as magazines, folders, newspapers and the like into an addressing or other printing machine. The magazines or similar articles may tend to buckle or curl during the feeding operation, thereby jamming either the feeder or the printing machine. As a consequence, frequent interruptions in operation of the printing machine may be required, making it relatively difficult to carry out a printing operation with a reasonable degree of speed and efficiency.

Another difiiculty presented in feeder devices relates to the accurate positioning of relatively heavy articles, such as magazines, in the printing station of an addressing or other printing machine. This problem is particularly pressing in the case of high speed feeder mechanisms, because the magazines tend to bounce when interrupted in their movement into the printing station of the ad dressing machine, especially in the case of relatively thick magazines and other articles of substantial weight.

Another problem frequently encountered in printing machine feeder mechanisms relates to the direction from which the articles to be printed are fed into the printing machine. Postal regulations require that, in the case of magazines or newspapers, the address must be located in a given position with respect to the folded or bound portion of the article. This location is, of course, different for the back of the publication than for the front. Accordingly, unless the printing machine is to be substantially changedin its operation with a change in printing from the back to the front of different publications, it is necessary that the feeder mechanism be capable of feeding the magazines or like articles into an addressing machine from either of two directions. With many previously known feeder devices this is not possible, particularly in those which require a mechanical connection of one kind or another between the feeder mechanism and the printing machine in order to synchronize eration of the tWO.

A further difficulty presented in the operation of printing machine feeder mechanisms relates primarilyto flexibility of operation of the printing machine itself. For example, a given addressing machine or similar printing machine might be utilized at one time to imprint postal cards, letters, or other similar single sheet articles. At another time, it may be highly desirable to employ the same printing machine in preparing a strip or tape of addresses which are later separated from each other and 3,029,726 Patented Apr. 17, 1982 individually applied to the articles to be mailed. It may also be desired to employ the same machine in directly imprinting addresses or other data upon relatively thick and bulky articles such as magazines, newspapers and the like. Because thefeeding techniques necessary for handling this wide variety of print-receiving articles are highly. varied and in some instances mutually exclusive,

it is advantageous to afford a feeder mechanism which is substantially self-contained. Furthermore, it is equally desirable that the feeder mechanism be readily removable from the printing machine to permit the use of a different feeder device in conjunction with operation of the printing machine.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is a new and improved feeder mechanism which is effective to feed relatively bulky articles such as magazines, newspapers, and the like through'an addressing machine or other printing machine and which inherently overcomes or minimizes the above noted disadvantages and diiiiculties of previously known feeders.

A more specific object of the invention is the prevention of buckling and curling of multiple-page articles as which is effective to feed the articles into the printing machine from either one of two opposed directions.

- Another important object of the invention is the provision of a self-contained feeder mechanism for a printing machine which is constructed for ready and convenient application to and removal from the printing machine.

.A more specific object of the invention is a new and improved self-contained printing machine feeder mechanism which may be effectively synchronized with op eration of the printing machine by means of a single electrical connection to the printing machine and which requires no mechanical operating connection thereto.

.A corollary object of the invention is a new and improved storage arrangement for a printing machine feeder mechanism which inherently minimizes the possibility of binding and jamming of magazines or like articles fed from the storage arrangement into a printing machine and which also effectively minimizes the amount of work required of the feeder mechanism.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and way of illustration,'show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what is now considered to be the best mode for applying those principles. Other embodiments, of the invention embodying the same or equivalentprinciples may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art wtihout departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an addressing machine and of afeeder mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention, the feeder being disposed in one location with respect to the addressing machine to advance articles into and from the printing station in the addressing machine;

spam-2e FIG. 1A is an elevation view of the feeder, ona reduced scale;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the novel feeder looking in toward the right hand side thereof as seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the feed station of the feeder taken substantially on line 33 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is another vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale of the feed station of the feeder of the invention taken substantially on the line 44 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a detail view, partly in cross section, of a. safety device incorporated in-the feeder;

co-inventors herein, Carl J. Hueber, No. 2,359,851,.

, patented February 26, 1935. In the present instance, the

FIG. 6 is a transverse detail view taken substantially FIG. 8 is a detail view taken substantially on the line FIG. 9 is a fragmentary detail view taken substantially on the line 99 on FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional detail view taken substantially along the same line as FIG. -6, FIG. 10 being drawn to a larger scale than FIG. 6 and showing different parts of the machine;

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional detail view showing the article engaging needles of the feeder in retracted position;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 but showing the needles in operative or article engaging position;

FIG. 13 isa fragmentary elevational View of the stop mechanism of the feeder looking in at the left-hand side of FIG. 1; V V

FIG. 14 is a sectional elevation view ofthe guide arrangement for the stop mechanism, taken approximately along line 1414 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15' is a horizontal sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 1515 on-FIG. 13;

FIG. 16-is a fragmentary plan view of the stop mechanisni;

FIG. 17 is a vertical sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 17--17 in FIG. 16 and showing theproximately along line 1818 in FIG. 16 andshows a bounce-preventing device included in the feeder;

FIG. 19 is a detail sectional view, drawn to an enlarged scale, taken substantially on 1ine1919 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a detail sectional view of a conditioning apparatus included in the feed station of the feeder;

FIG. 21 is a detail sectional'view taken substantially on line 21-41 in FIG. 20; v

FIG. 22 is a detail sectional view taken along line 2 222 in FIG. 20;

, .FIG. 23 is a' fragmentary detail view offthe feed station conveyor; 1 1

FIG. 24 is a .detail sectional view taken approximately o'nline 2'4-24 inFIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary elevation view of aportion of one kind of addressing or printing machine with which the feeder may be associated;

FIG 26is a sectional-view taken substantially on line 26-26 in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a timing chart utilized to explain the operation of the feeder;

FIG. 28 is a fragmentary plan. view illustrating the manner. in which thefeeder may be associated with substantially different printing machine; and a FIG. 29 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 2929 in FIG. 28.

The addressing machine A, shown inFIG. .1,.is.-of.the kind illustrated and described in the patent to one of the approximately of the upper end feeder F is positioned over the addressing machine A with the feed station 20 of the feeder disposed at the right-hand end of the addressing machine as shown in FIG. 1, looking in from the front of the machine. As is explained in further detail hereinafter, the feed station 20 of the feeder F may also be disposed at the opposite end of the addressing machine A. In either event, the feeder F is effective to feed relatively thick and bulky articles such as magazines, newspapers and the like to the printing station S in the addressing machine. At the printing station. S, an impression'is made onto the article from a printing device then disposed at the printing station. The printingdevices are disposed in the magazine M of the printing machine A and are fed to and from the printing station S in the manner described in the above noted- Patent No. 2,359,851.

As best illustrated in FIG.. 1A, the feeder F includes the feed station 20 and an exit or'discharge station 21, these two stations of the feeder being interconnected by a conveyor portion 22. The feed station 20 is independently supported as by the four legs 23; preferably, casters are provided for the legs of the feed station 20' as is explained in detail hereinafter. The discharge-station 21 is likewise supported upon a pair of legs 24 and also is preferably mounted upon casters. The feed and discharge stations 20 and 21 are rigidly'connected to the transverse portion or conveyor section 22, thus aifording an inverted substantially U-shaped structure (see FIG. 1A), which maybe moved into position over the addressing machine A (FIG; 1) and removed therefromina simple and convenient manner. Furthermore, the independent support and integrated construction of the feeder make it possible to reverse the feeder with respect to the addressing machine, thereby greatly facilitating the feeding of magazine, newspapers, or the like, from either direction with respect to the printing station S of the addressing machine.

As shown in FIG. 2, the magazines, newspapers, or the like 25 which are to be imprinted in'the addressing machine A are located in a stack in the feed station 20 of-the novel feeder. The individual magazines 25 are fed from the lowermost end of the station, as seen in FIG. 2, onto the conveyor mechanism 22, the direction of feed being generally indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the'arrows 26. From the feed station 20 the magazines are moved to the printing stationS of the addressing machine (FIG. 1) and are halted at the desired printing-position by means of a stop mechanism 27 which accurately positions each magazine to receive the desired address or other data to be imprinted thereon by the printing machine A. The stop mechanism 27 holds the-magazine or the like in a printing position during the printing operation and subsequently is actuated; to release the magazine for further movement in thedirection' of the arrow 26. After the printing operation'is complete, the magazine is discharged from the conveyor portion of the feeder at the includes a motor or oth'er power 'source"30"whichserves' as the prime mover for the entire feeder mechanism. On the shaft 31 of the motor there is mounted a dual pulley 32 which is engaged by a pair of drive belts 33 and 34. The drive belt 33 also engages a relatively large pulley 35 which is utilizedto drive a sprocket 37, the pulley 35 and the sprocket 37 constituting a part of an overload safety device 36 which protects the feeder against jamming and other malfunctioning. The overload safety device 36 is of conventional construction and therefore need not be described in detail here.

The sprocket 37 is engaged by a drive chain 38 which also engages a second sprocket 39. The sprocket 39 is disposed in concentric relation to a main shaft 40 but is not afiixed thereto; rather, the sprocket 39 constitutes one of the moving elements of a one revolution clutch mechanism 41 which also includes a latch member 42. The latch member 42 is pivotally mounted on a shaft member indicated by reference numeral 43 and is normally biased downwardly by means of a spring 44. The one revolution clutch 41 may be of substantially conventional construction and therefore need not be described in detail herein.

The one revolution clutch 41 is controlled in its operation by means of a solenoid 45 which is electrically connected to a cam-controlled switch 47 in the addressing machine A, as described more fully hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 25 and 26. The solenoid 45 is connected to an actuating lever 46 which engages the latch member 42 to engage or disengage the clutch 41, depending on whether the solenoid is in its energized or deenergized condition. The electrical connection and control afforded by the solenoid 45 is provided solely for timing and synchronizing purposes and makes it possible to operate the feeder F without mechanical drive connections to the printing or addressing machine A.

A sprocket 48 is mounted upon the main shaft 48 for rotation therewith and engaged by a drive chain 49, the other end of the chain 49 engaging a sprocket 56 which is mounted upon a cam shaft 51. As best seen in FIG. 6, a pair of cams 52 and 53 are mounted at opposite sides of the feeder mechanism and are pinner or otherwise affixed to the shaft 51 for rotation therewith. The shaft 51 is supported in a pair of frame members 54 and 55; preferably, the shaft is journaled in sealed ball bearings which are mounted upon the frame members 54 and 55.

The cam 53 is engaged by a cam'follower comprising a roller 57 mounted upon one arm 58 of a crank-shaped lever- 59. The bell crank 59 is journaled upon a boss 60 affixed to and extending inwardly of the frame member 55, the shape of the lever 59 being best illustrated in 'FIG. 4. Similarly, the cam 52 is engaged by a cam follower roller 62 which is mounted upon one arm of a crank-shaped lever 63, the lever 63 being journaled upon a boss 64 on the frame member 54. The central portions of the two bosses 60 and 64 are provided with axial apertures through which a shaft 65 extends as described more fully hereinafter.

i mounted in the two levers 59 and 63, respectively. A

sprocket 78 is affixed to one end of the shaft 66 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) and is engaged by a chain 71 which also extends into engagement with an additional sprocket 72 mounted upon and aflixed to the shaft 65. The chain drive comprising the sprockets and 72 and the chain 71 affords a means for continuously rotating a pair of feed rollers 73 and 74 Whichare mounted upon and secured to the shaft 66. Preferably, the two rollers 73 and 74 are secured to the shaft 66 by keys or similar mounting arrangements but are slidable longitudinally of the shaft to different positions in order to accommodate magazines, newspapers, and the like of varying sizes as explained more fully hereinafter.

6 In FIG. 3 it is seen that the second, drive belt 34, which engages the pulley 32, also engages a pulley whichis affixed to a shaft 81, the shaft 81 extending across the rear end of the machine and being journaled in' bearings respectively provided in the two frame members 54 and 55. As indicated in FIG. 2, the shaft 81 extends through the side or frame member 55 and a sprocket 82 is atfixed to the extension portion of the shaft for rotation therewith. The sprocket 82 is engaged by a chain 83 which also engages a further series of sprockets 84, 85, 86 and 87, the sprockets 86 and 87 being idler sprockets. The sprocket 84 is affixed to the outboard end of the shaft 65 (see FIG. 2) and thus affords a means for continuously rotating the shaft 65. Consequently, the rollers 73 and 74 (see FIG. 6) are continuously driven by means of the driving connection afforded by the two sprockets 70 and 72 and the chain 71 (FIGS. 7 and 10) which links those sprockets.

The sprocket 85, on the other hand, is afiixed to a shaft 91} which extends between the two frame members 54 and 55 and is journaled in ball hearings or other suitable bearings mounted in the two side frame members respectively. A pair of rollers 93 and 94 are mounted upon the shaft for rotation therewith. Like the rollers 73 and 74, the rollers 93 and 94 (-FIG. 6) are longitudinally movable with respect to the shaft which supports them; consequently, the rollers 93 and 94 may be adjusted along the shaft 90 to locations immediately opposite the rollers 73 and 74. The opposed rollers, such as the rollers 73 and 93 in FIG. 3, are aligned with suitable openings 96 in a plate 97 which extends transversely of the feeder F and which is located at the base of the hopper or feed station 20 of the feeder. As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plate 97 extends completely across the machine between the frame members 54 and '55 and preferably is disposed at an angle of approximately 45 with respect to the horizontal. This inclination of the base plate 96 is substantially advantageous in reducing the force required to separate and feed one "magazine from the stack therewith. The lower portion 98 (FIG. 3) of the plate 97 is curved to afford a smoothtran sition in the movement of the magazines, newspapers, orthe 97 be rigid, regardless of the number of magazines or like articles in the stack. Above the top portion of the plate 97, a series of rollers 182 are journaled in a pair of bars or the like such as the bar 183 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The rollers 182 extend completely across the feed station 20 of the feeder F and afford additional support for the magazines, newspapers, or the like 25 as indicated in FIG. 2. The support bars 103 are secured to the side frame members such as the frame member 55 by suitable means such as the bolts 104, thus making it possible to assemble the bars and the rollers as a complete unit'before they are mounted in the feed station 20 of the machine. In some instances, it may be desirable to afford additional transverse bracing of this portion of the feed station; for this purpose, one or more additional brace members such as the brace 105 may be provided. At least one gage plate 107 is preferably provided in the hopper or storage portion of the feeder. The gage plate may be mounted on a plurality of transverse support members 108 extending between the frame members 54 and 55 (see FIG. 2) by suitable mounting means such as a plurality of clamps 109 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). In many instances, it is desirable to afford two gage plates to enby a plurality. of needle units 110 which are mounted upon a transverse bar member 111 and which are distributed at spaced points across the width of the feed station 20. The details of construction of the needle units are best illustrated in FIGS. 8l2.

FIGS. 8-10 illustrate the mounting of the needle bar 111 in the feed station of the feeder F of the machine. A

guide bar 113 is affixed to the side frame member 55 and extends along the frame member in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the plate 97 (see FIG. 3). A nylon block or. slide 114 is mounted upon the guide 113 for sliding movement therealong, being provided with a longitudinal aperture 115 which is substantially complementary in configuration to the cross sectional configuration of the guide 113. A mounting member comprising a bushing116 is utilized to suspend the needle ar 111 from the slide or mounting block 114; the bushing being disposed in encompassing relation to a mounting pin 112 which extends outwardly of the end of the needle bar 111 adjacent the slide 114; The pin receiving opening116A in the bushing 116 is eccentrically located with respect to the axis of the bushing and'the bushing isprovided with a hexagonal portion 116B or other convenient means for turning the bushing. The bushing 116 is located in an opening 114A in the slide 114. At the oppositeend of the needle bar 1 11, a mounting pin 117- extends outwardly of the bar and is journaled in an ordinary concentric bushing 126. The bushing 126 extends into an opening 118A in a slide 118 which is substantially similar to the slide or block 114 and which is slidably mounted upon a suitable guide member 119'corresponding to the guide bar 113. utilize eccentric bushings at both .sides of the machine, since leveling of the needle bar 111 may be achieved simply by adjusting one side a by rotational adjustment of the bushing 116. Preferably, set screws 120 or similar fastening devices are employedto secure the bushings 116 and 126 within the nylon slide blocks and to prevent the bushings from'rotating in normal use of the feeder.

Of course, with the described mounting arrangement, the needle bar 111 is pivotally movable with respect to the slides 114 and 118 and this pivotal movement is necessary to proper operation of the feeder as described more fully hereinafter. In order to maintain the needle bar in a desired normal or initial pivotal position, a biasing arrangement is provided for the needle bar. This biasing his not necessary to A plurality of needles 128 are mounted upon the needle bar 111 at spaced intervals along the length of the needle bar. These needles project outwardly of the needle bar through the apertures 106 in the plate 97 (see FIG. 3). The needle bar 111 is also provided with a needle retraction device comprising a first retracting or cam member 129 which is secured to the under surface of the needle bar 111 as indicated in FIG. 11. The cam member 129 projects rearwardly of the needle bar toward engagement with a second similar retracting or cam member 131 which is mounted upon the support or brace member 1%.

FIG. 11 shows the needle bar in its initial of retracted position in which the two cam members 129 and 136 engage each other to pivot the needle bar to a position in which the needles 128 do not project above the surface of the plate 97 and thus do not contact any of the magazines or newspapers in the feeder stack. As indicated in FIG. 12, a very slight movement of the guide 1 and needle bar assembly in the direction indicated by the arrangement comprises a limit or stop member 121 which is threaded into a boss 122 on the guide block 114 and which extends upwardly therefrom toward contact with the needle bar 111 (see FIG. 8). The biasing arrangement further includes a spring 123 which extends between a pin 124011 the needle bar and a pin which projects inwardly of the feeder station from the slide block 114. A relatively light spring should beemployed-forthe member 123, it being highly desirable that the spring exert a biasing force only slightly in excess of that required normally to maintain the needle bar 111m. contact with the stop member 121. Stated diiferently, the spring123 should not offer appreciable resistance to pivotal movement of the bar 111 during normal operation of the machine, but should have sumcient strength to return the needle bar periodically to engagement with the stop memher 121 during operation of the machine, as described in detail hereinafter.

' arrows 132 releases the two cam members 129 and 136 from eifective engagement with each other and permits the needle bar 111 to pivot counter clockwise to its normal' position in engagement with the stop member 121 (FIG. 8),. thereby bringing the needles 128 into engagement with the lowermost magazine or newspaper 25A in the stack. Continued movement ofthe needle bar assembly in the direction indicated by the arrow 132 in FIG. 12 advances themagazine 25A downwardly and to the right as seen in FIG. .l2 towardengagement with the feed rollers 73 and 93 (see FIG. 3), the limit position of the assembly being indicated by the dash outline 114' for the guide block 114. Subsequent movement of the guide block and the needle bar in the direction opposite arrow 132 returns the needle bar assembly back to the position shown in FIG. 11 with the needles retracted.

The drive linkagefor the needle bar assembly comprises an eccentric 135 which is affixed to the outboard end of the shaft 51 as indicated in'FrGs. 2 and ,4. An adjustable length link 136 is mounted upon the eccentric 135 and is pivotally connected to a lever 137. The lever is pinned or otherwise secured to a shaft 138 and is utilized to rotate the shaft. 7 The shaft 133 extends completely across the feed station 20 of the novel feeder 7), being journaled in suitable anti-friction or other bearings mountedupon the-respective plates 54 and 55 of the feed station. An actuating linkor lever 140 (FIGS. 4 and 7) is affixed to the shaft 138 for rotation therewith and is pivotally connected to an additional link 141- which, in turn, is pivotally connected to the mount- 1ng block 114. A similar linkage may be utilized at the opposite end of the machine to connect the shaft 138 to the nylon slide or block at that side of the machine.

Thus, rotation of the cam shaft 51 is effective, through v the described linkage, to reciprocate the two'slides or mounting blocks at the opposite sides of the machine along their respective guide members in'a direction substantially parallelto the plate 97 which supports the magazines, newspapers, or other articles 25.

The mechanism of the feed station 21 as thus far de-. scribed, providesfor feeding of the lowermost magazine 25 from the stack completely under control of the cam shaft 51. The shaft 51, as described hereinabove, is driven by the chain 49 from the one cycle clutch 41. At the start of a feed cycle, the needle bar assembly is in the position illustrated in FIG. 11 with the needles 123 retracted from the lowermost magazine 25A. The cam shaft 51 first drives the eccentric 135 and thereby initiates movement of the needle bar 111 along the direction indicated by the arrows 132 in FIGS; 4, l1 and 12, the movement of the needle bar being eifected through the linkage comprising the adjustable lever 136, the link 137, the rock shaft 138, and the connectinglinks 140 and 141. As soon as the needle bar 111 is moved a relatively short distance the two cam members 122 and 134) are effectively disengaged, releasing the needle bar for a relatively limited pivotal movement about its axis. The force required for this movement is provided by the springs 123. This pivotal movement is in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 3, 4, 11 and 12 and brings the needles 123 into engagement with the undersurface ofthe lowermost magazine 25A in the stack, the movement of the needles being from the retracted position thereof shown in FIG. 11 to the engaged position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 4 and 12. Thereafter, continued movement of the needle bar assembly in the direction of the arrows 132 'impels the magazine 25A downwardly along the surface of the plate 97 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 12) toward the feed rollers such as the rollers 73 and 93.

As the magazine 25A approaches limiting position 114 adjacent the rollers 73 and 93, the continued rotation of the cam shaft 51 causes the cams 52 and 53 to move the cam followers 57 and 62 in a clockwise direction as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, the rollers 73 and 74 are pivoted away from the upper rollers 93 and 94, permitting the magazine to move into the space between the two sets of rollers. Thereafter, the continued rotation of the cam shaft reverses the effective direction of movement of the linkage connected to the needle bar 111, withdrawing the needles from engagement with the magazine 25A. The

reverse movement of the needle bar assembly causes the needle bar to pivot to a limited extent in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 12 by virtue of the fact that the needles are in contact with the undersurface of the magazine; it is for this reason that the springs 123, which tend to bias the needle assembly toward the magazine, should exert a relatively light force in order to avoid scratching of the magazine or newspaper.

After the needles 128 have been withdrawn from the magazine 25A, the continued rotation of the cam shaft 51 causes the cams 52 and 53 to rotate to a position in which they permit counter clockwise movement of the cam follower levers 58 and 63 about their respective pivot points (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The necessary biasing force required to keep the cam followers in contact with the cams is provided by a pair of springs such as the spring 140 (FIG. 4). The spring 140' continuously urges the cam follower lever 58 in a counter clockwise direction and maintains the roller 57 in contact with the cam 53. This movement of the levers 58 and 63 brings the lower feed rollers '73 and 74 substantially closer to the upper feed rollers 93 and 94 and thereby permits the rollers to engage the magazine 25A and impel it downwardly along the lower portion 93 of the plate 97. In this manner, the magazine is fedto the conveyor portion 22 of the feeder.

It should be noted that the upward movement of the lower rollers 73 and 74 is not sufiicient to bring them into engagement with the upper rollers 93 and 94 in the event that there is no magazine or other article interposed between the rollers. Rather, the movement of the lower rollers is limited to a point just short of contact with the upper rollers to prevent the development of flat spots on the rollers when the feeder is stopped with the rollers 73 and 74 in raised position.

Of course, the continued upward movement of the needle bar assembly 110 returns the needle bar 111 to the initial position illustrated in FIG. 11 in which the two cam members 129 and 131) engage each other and deflect the needles 128 out of contact with the next lowermost magazine in the stack. Consequently, if operation of the machine is stopped and it is desired to remove the magazines from the stack, there is no danger that the person removing magazines would impale his fingers on the needle 128. A

In order to avoid feeding of two or more magazines or newspapers at one time, and also to avoid jamming of the feeder, a plurality of separator plates are mounted in the feeder station 261 immediately adjacent the feed rollers such as the rollers 73 and 93. A preferred construction of these separator plates is illustrated in FIG. 5. As indicated therein, each of the relatively narrow separator. plates 142 is mounted upon a plate holder 143 which engages a mounting bar 144. The mounting bar 144 extends transversely of the feed station 20 of the machine, the mounting position being most clearly illustrated in FIG. 2. The plate holder or mounting member 143 is effectively clamped to the bar 144 by a clamp member 145, which engages one surface of the bar 144 and which is secured to the holder 143 by suitable means such as a screw 146. The lower end 147 of the separator Plate 142 is preferably provided with a bevel 147 to permit the lowermost magazine in the stack to advance a very limited distance along the surface of the support plate 97 as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 5 also shows a safety device which may be utilized in the novel feeder. The safety device comprises a lever 148 which is pivoted on the holder 143, as indicated at 149, and which projects slightly above the surface 150 of the separator plate 142. p

The holder 143of the lever'148-is provided with a pin 151 which extends into an enlarged hole 150 in the lever 148. 'Ihepin151 serves to limit movement of the lever 148 when a stack of magazines, newspapers, or the like engage the lever. The opposite end 152 of the lever 148 engages an actuating element 153 which comprises a part of a switch 154. The element is spring biased and tends to pivot the lever 14S ina counter clockwise direction about its pivot point 149.

When magazines are loaded in the feeder, however, the weight of the magazines forces the lever downwardly with respect to the separator plate 147 andconsequently moves the actuating element 153 inwardly of the switch 154. The switch 154 is a normally open device which is closed by the above described movement of the lever 148. The switch is connected to the operating circuit of the feeder in -a manner such that the switch must be closed in order to permit operation of the feeder. Consequently, when there are no magazines or the like, or only a very few magazines in the feeder, the safety device is effective to interrupt operation of the feeder until a fresh supply of magazines is placed in the receptacle provided therefor. V

In order to prevent, jamming of the feeder in the region adjacent the separator plates 142, it is necessary that the magazines, newspapers or the like be disposed in the feeder with their fold ends abutting the separator plates. Otherwise, the magazines or newspapers would tend to open during the feeding operation and would almost inevitably jam the machine. Ordinarily, however, the fold ends of the magazines are somewhat thicker than the free ends. Consequently, as the magazines are fed from the stack, there is a tendency for the fold ends to pile up or curl. Unless this tendency is effectively counteracted, the lowermost magazine in the stack will not be in contact with the support plate 97 (FIG. 3), but rather will tend to hang up on the separator plates 142 and on I other parts of the feeder device. To overcome this difiiculty, the feeder is provided with a pushing or conditioning apparatus 156 which is best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 20-24.

The pusher or conditioning apparatus 156 comprises a plurality of pusher belts 157 that are passed about a roller 158 located at the top of the hopper for the feed station. The belts 157, at their lower ends, are each passed around a pair of relatively small rollers 16% and 161. As shown in FIG. 20, the rollers 161) and 161 are journaled in holders 163, similar holders being located at spaced points along the mounting bar 144. The holder I 163 is effectively clamped to the mounting bar 144 by means of a set screw or the like 164 which engages in a notch in the rearface of the bar 144. The holder 163 is provided with flanges which serve to guide the associated belt 157 and prevent displacement of-the belt along the rollers. As indicated in FIG. 21, the guide arrangement comprises a pair of ears or guide members 166 which engage the sides of the 'belt 157 immediately adjacent the 1 1 V roller 161, to prevent transverse displacement of the belts from their desired positions.

This arrangement is augmented in the portions of the belt which pass over the roller 158, where an additional series of guides 167,- one of which is illustrated in detail in FIG. 22, are employed. Each of the guide devices 167 comprises a substantially U-shaped guide member 16 8 which is slidably mounted upon a bar 169, the bar 169 extending transversely of the feed station 20 of the machine and being mounted in the side frame members 54 and 55 of the feed station 20 of the machine. Each of the devices 167 further includes a spring 170 which is secured to the guide member 168 in adjustably fixed position upon the bar 169. As indicated in FIG. 22 one of the belts 157 extends/ between and is held in position by the extension portions 171 and 172; of the U-shaped guide member 168. A series of auxiliary rollers 173 support the central portion of the upperpas's of each of the belts 157. p H s I I It is essential that the belts 157 be maintained under tension. The mounting arrangement employed for this purposeis' best illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 23. As indicated herein, the shaft 175 upon which the roller 158 is mounted extends across the feed station of themachine andthrough the two side frame members 4 and 55. On the outboard ends of the, shaft there are mounted apair of bearings as indicated by. thebearing housings 179 and 180, which preferably. enclose ball hearings or other anti friction bearings. Moreover," it is' desirable that these hearings be of the totally enclosed type, pre-lubn'cated and sealed against dust and other extraneous matter. The housings 179 and 180 include the hubs 179A and 180A, respectively, which encompass the ends of the shaft 175. The portion 180A of the bearing 'h ousing 180 which extends throughthe frame member 55 is located in a slot 181 which permits movement of the shaft longitudinally of the slot. A mounting block 183 is'mounted' upon the frame member '54 closely adjacent the lower end of the slot 181 and a tension adjusting screw 184 is threaded through the block 183 and engages the outer casing ofthe housing179.v v v s 7 At the opposite side ofthe machine, the housing portion 180A is located in a similar slot and is engaged by a tension adjusting screw 186 threaded'through a mounting block 187. Manipulation of the screws 184 and 186 makes it possible to adjust the position of; the bearings supporting the shaft 175 and-thus apply the desired tensionon the pusher belts 157; manipulation of the tension adjusting screws also affords a means tovmaintain the shaft 175 in parallel relation with the rollers 160 and 161. Thus, this arrangement serves as both a tensioning and a-leveling mechanism. Of course, the belts 157 retain theroller. 158 and the shaft 175 inposition on the frame members 54 and 55.

While resort may be had to pusher belts-1 57 of various kinds,-two-ply canvas belts have been found to be highly advantageous. Insuch belts, each of the plys is impregnated with a rubber solution. Desirably, the treatment of the inner ply which rides over the rollers 158, 160 and 161 is suchthat high frictional engagement between this face of the belt and the rollers is afforded to insure effective driving of the belts. It is'also advantageous to impregnate or otherwise treat the outer'ply of the belt to insure good frictional engagement of the belt with the magazines, newspapers or other articles handled by the feeder. This treatment of the outer plys-of the belts is preferably of such; nature that the frictional material is permanently retained therein andis not rubbed off into the magazines or thelike during operation of the feeder.

The drive for the pusher tapes 157 isgbest illustrated in FIGS. 2, 10 and 23.- As indicated in FIGS. :2. and 10, a second eccentric-190 is aifixed to the outboard end of the shaft 51 for rotation therewith. The eccentric 190 is con e t lsn d O er t n le er 32.1 braised motion connection comprising a spring 192, one en'dof s a-am which is connected to a stud 193 on the lever 191 and the other end of which is connected to a pin 194 secured to the arm 195 of the eccentric 190. The pin 194 and an additional locating pin 196 are slidably engaged in suitable slots in the lever 191; thus, the connection afforded by the spring 192 permits limited longitudinal movement of the lever 191 with respect to the extension arm 195 of the eccentric.

One end of the elongated lever 191 opposite the eccentric 190 is pivotally connected to the operating arm 20th of an unidirectional clutch device 291 (FIGS. 2 and 23). The clutch 201 may be of conventional construction and does not constitute a critical part of the present invention insofar as its structural details are concerned. Any suitable clutch which is effectively engaged when its operating arm is moved in a given direction, but which is disengaged when the arm is moved in the opposite direction, may be utilized as the clutch 201. The driven element of the clutch 201 is mounted on the outboard end of the roller shaft 175. In the present instance, the clutch 201 is effectively engaged to rotate the shaft when the operating arm 200 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 2, but is disengaged and is therefore ineffectivei torotate the shaft 175 when the operating arm 200 is rotated in a counte'rfclockwise direction. A V

A simple, inexpensive, and commercially available .construction for the clutch201 is illustrated-in FIGS. 23 and 24. As indicated in FIG. 24, the clutch 201 may include the driven clutch element 202, which comprises a bushing aflixed to the shaft 175 as by a pin 203. The clutch further includes a drive clutch element comprising a bushing 204 which isjournaled upon a reduced diameter end portion 20.6 of the driven element 202. The operating arm 200 is afiixed tothe drive element 264 of the clutch. A torsion spring 207 is mountedin encompassing relation to the adjacent portions of the two clutch elements 202 and 204, the ends of the spring being secured to the two clutch elements.

Rotation of the drive element 204 in one direction (clockwise in FIG. 2) tends to tighten the convolutions o-fthe spring 207 and causes the spring to be effective to transmit torque from the drive element to thedriven element 202 and thus to the shaft 175. Rotation of the drive element in the opposite direction, however, simply relieves tension on the spring and opens up its convolutions, so that no substantial torque is transmitted to the shaft.

The pusher belts 157 are intermittently driven from the cam shaft 51 through the linkage afforded by the eccentric 190, the elongated link 191 and the undirectional clutch device 201. The position of the eccentric upon the shaft 51 is made sueh that the downward stroke of the elongated link 191 is initiated at the beginning of the operating cycle of the main clutch 41, thus coinciding with the time at which the needle support bar 111 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 11. Consequently, movement of the belts 157 in the directions indicated by the arrows 205 is initiated at the beginning of each operat ing cycle of the feeder, since downward movement of the lever 191 drives the clutch 201 and the shaft 175 in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 2. The rotational movement of the shaft is completed prior to the time that the needles 12S enter the lowermost magazine 25 in the stack. This timing is highly desirable in order to avoid a downward pressing movement of the stack of magazines against the needles 128 and the needle bar 111. More over, it insures that undesirable pressure is not impressed upon the needles 128 which might result in damage thereto or to the articles to be engaged and advanced thereby.

The intermittent downward movement of the pusher belts 157 impels the folded ends of the newspapers, magazines or like articles downwardly in the stack and assures contact of the lowermost magazine or the like with the support plate 97. Consequently, the normal tendency of the magazines to curl and bend away from the plate 97 is counteracted by the pnsher belts, with the result that 13 the lowermost article in the stack isefiectively and accurately positioned for engagement by the needles 128 and for feeding through the gap between the plate 97 and the separator plates 142, and thence into the space between the feed rollers 73, 74 and 93, 94. Moreover, this entire arrangement is such that it is insured that only the lowermost magazine, newspaper or other article in the stack thereof in the hopper is advanced so as to thereby avoid double feeding, jamming or otherwise objectionable operation. In this connection, it will, of course, be understood that the spacing between the support plate 97 and the separator plates 142 should be adjusted to be slightly greater than the thickness of the articles handled by the feeder but less than the thickness of two articles being fed.

When the feeder F of this invention is associated with an addressing machine A of the kind illustrated in FIG. 1, the addressing machine may advantageously be equipped with conveyor belts in the manner described in the patent to Lawrence H. Morse, No. 2,359,852, patented October 10, 1944. It will be understood, however, that when the feeder F is aligned with the addressing machine A in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1, the conveyor belts are driven in a direction opposite to that in which they are described as being driven in aforesaid patent No. 2,359,852.

' In the present instance, when a magazine or other article is discharged from the feed station 20 of the feeder F, it is deposited upon a plurality of feeder belts 210 which extend across the conveyor portion 22 of the feeder. The belts 210 are operated at a speed sufiicient to advance the magazines into the printing station S to be arrested by the stop mechanism 27 well in advance of the time an impression is madeon the article in the printing station S. Hence, the conveyor belts 210 are operated at a relatively high speed. 'Although only two belts 210 are i1- lustrated in FIG. 1, it should be understood that any desired number of belts may be employed and that this is by no means critical to the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the individual endless belts 216 are passed about adrive roller 212 which is; mounted upon the continuously driven shaft 81, the shaft 81 being driven by means of the belt 34 as described hereinabove. From the drive roller 212, the upper pass of each of the belts 210 extends toward andextends around an idler roller 213 located at the discharge end 21 of the feeder F (see FIG. 1'). A pair of idler rollers 214 (FIG. 7) and 214A (FIG. 1) engage the lower pass of each of the belts to elevate the lower passes of the belts and thereby make it possible to associate the feeder mechanism with the addressing machine A in such a manner that the operative parts of the feeder are disposed above the top of the table 215 of the addressing machine as A. It is this that enables the feeder of the present invention to be readily associated with or disassociated from a particular printing or addressing machine.

The conveyor portion 22 of the feeder F includes a pair of side rails 220 and 221 which have corresponding ends thereof mounted upon the structural members at the feed station 20 and the discharge station 21. At the feed station of the machine, as illustrated in FIG. 3, for example, the rail 220 is effectively secured to a support rail 222, which constitutes a part of the frame of the feed station 20, by suitable means such as a clamping plate 223 bolted to each of the two rails 220 and 222. At the opposite end of the machine, the rail 22% may be directly bolted to the depending leg 24; of course, other suitable fastening means may be utilized if desired, although it should be noted that the connection should be a rigid one when the feeder F is assembled. Similarly, the rail 221 may be bolted or otherwise secured to the frame of the feed station 20 as by a clamping plate 226 and may be fastened to the leg or frame portion of the discharge station 21 by suitable means such as the bolt 227 (see FIG, 1).

As indicated in FIG. 16, a pair of substantially T-shaped guide rails 230 and 231 are mounted upon the support rails 2'20 and 221 respectively, the guide rail 231 being shown in cross section in FIG. 14. The guide rails 230 and 231 are individually engaged by a pair of stop finger mounting blocks 232 and 233, respectively, which are provided with substantially T-shaped slots for engaging the guide rails 230 and 231 respectively as shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 16. Each of the mounting blocks 232 and 233 is provided with a set screw such as the set screw 234 in FIG. 13 which serves to releasably retain the mounting block in any desired longitudinal position with respect to the guide rail with which it is associated.

A support bar, 236 extends between the two mounting blocks 232 and 233. Each of the blocks is provided with a clamp arrangement to retain the bar 236 in fixed position therein. Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, the block 233 is provided with an opening 237 through which the bar 236 extends and a clamp screw 238 which elfectively clamps the bar in the desired position.

A stop finger operating shaft 249 extends between and is journaled in the two mounting blocks 232 and 233 and projects outwardly of the block 233. On the outboard end of the shaft 240 there is mounted a bell crank 242 which is normally biased toward rotation in a counter clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 13, by means of a spring 244. The bell crank 242 supports a roller 245 which engages a cam member 246 mounted upon a stop finger actuating rod 247. One end of the actuating rod 247 is slidably engaged'by a guide bracket 248 mounted upon the support rail 2.20. The opposite end of the actuating rod 247 is pivotally connected to a lever 250 which is mounted upon the outboard end of a shaft 251 which extends completely across the feed station of the feeder F and is journaled in the two side frame members of the feed station.

, The end of the lever 250 opposite the shaft 251 is connected to a spring 255 which is effective to bias the lever 250 to rotation in a counter clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 13. A cam follower link 256 is pivotally connected to the intermediate portion of the lever 250 as indicated by reference numeral 257. A cam follower roller 253 is mounted upon the link 256 and engages a cam 26% which is affixed to the cam shaft 51 at the feeder station of the machine. The cam 260 is preferably secured to the cam shaft 51 by a releasable means such as a set screw 262 in order to permit adjustment of the angular position of the cam 269 with respect to the shaft and also to permit removal of the cam from the shaft, as explained more fully hereinafter. Preferably, the link 256 is bifurcated at the end opposite the pivotal mounting 257 to afford a pair of arms 263 and 264 which engage a portion of the hub 268 of the cam (see FIGS. 13 and 15).

Referring to the stopfinger assembly 27, as illustrated in FIGS. 16, 17 and 17A, it is seen that a substantially pan-shaped support member 272 is mounted upon the support bar 236. The support member 270 is provided with a pair of bosses 271 which afford a convenient means for securing the support member to the bar 236, suitable mounting members such as the set screw 272 illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 17A being employed for this purpose.

The base portion 274 of the support member 279 is foreshortened at the end opposite the support bar 236 and the extremity of the bottom portion is turned upwardly to afford a lip 275, as indicated in FIGS. 16 and 17. In addition, a longitudinal slot 276 is formed in the base of the support member 270. The sides of the pan-shaped support member 270 are extended beyond the lip 275,. and a stop finger member 278 is'pivotally mounted between the two extension portions 279 and 280 of the support member, as clearly shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

An actuating lever 281 is affixed to the shaft 240 at the center portion thereof and extends from the shaft 240 toward the stop member 278 in alignment with the slot 276 in the base 274 of the support member 270. At the l 1 end of the lever 281 opposite the shaft 246, a relatively small crank-shaped lever 2&3 is pivotally mounted upon the lever 281. One arm of the lever 233 is pivotally In addition to the support rails 220 and 2-21 described hereinabove, an additional pair of longitudinal rails 2S and 291 are incorporated in the conveyor portion 22 of the machine and extend from the feed station 29 to the discharge station 21 thereof (see FIGS. 1 and 16).. As illustrated in FIG. 1, each of the support rails 29% and 291 is pivotally supported upon a pair of rods 292 and 293located adjacent the feed station LI and the discharge station 21, respectively, in a manner which permits raising and lowering of the rails 290" and 2%]. to engage a magazine being fed across the center portion 22 of the feeder and thereby maintain the magazine in contact with the conveyor belts 219. A plurality of pressure rollers 399 and 301 are mounted atspaced intervals along the rails 29% and29i, respectively (FIGS. 16 and 19), and engage.

conveyor belt 210 by suitable means such as the spring.

309; a similar biasing arrangement is applied to the other stop member 304. The biasing force ofthe spring 309 is relatively weak. Consequently, a magazine advancing along the belt 21% in the direction indicated by the arrow 26 deflects the stop member 305 upwardly and passes beneath the stop member. The end portion 310 of the stop member 30$,however, is bent upwardly toafford a stop portion which effectively interrupts movement of a magazine in a direction opposite to the arrow 26 Whenever such reverse movement occurs, as described more fully hereinafter.

As described hereinabove, when a magazine, newspaper or the like discharged from the feed station 20 of the feeder F, the magazine is fed across the table portion 215 of the addressing or other printing machine A in the direction indicated by the arrow 26 in the several views of the drawings. As the magazine or other article proceeds along the conveyor, it is of course maintained in contact with the conveyor belts 219 by means of the pressure rollers 300 and 381 and is prevented from buckling by the rods 2% and 2%.

As the magazine or other article proceeds along the conveyor, the rotation of the cam shaft 51 causes the cam 266} to impel the cam follower 253 toward the right, as seen in FiG. l3, pivoting the lever 2556 in a clockwise direction against the force exerted by the spring 235. As a consequence, the elongated actuating lever 247 is moved longitudinally to the right as seen in FIG. 13, driving the cam 24d beneath the cam follower 24-5 and pivoting the hell crank 242 in a clockwise direction. The clockwise movement of the crank 242 imparts a corresponding clockwise rotational movement to the shaft 246 and pivots the lever 281 to the position shown in FIG. 17, in which the stop member 278 is elevated above the surface of the table 215 of the printing machine. This action takes place immediately following a printing operation in the machine and, preferably, the elevation of the stop member 278 is started during the printing operation in order that the magazine may be released for continued movement immediately upon completion of printing.

' The stopmember 278 is maintained in the elevated positiodof'FIG. 17foi' only a relatively short period of time, this periodibeing determined primarily by the length of the dwell portion 246A of the cam 246. Following the printing operation, the continued rotation of the cam shaft 51 permits the cam follower 258 to move to the left as seen in FIG. 13 and permits the spring 255 to pivot the lever 254 in a counter clockwise' direction. As a consequence, the elongated lever 247 is moved longitudinally to the left (FIG. 13), permitting the cam follower 24 5 to ride onto the lower portion of the cam 2%. As a result, and in response to the biasing force exerted by the spring 244, the bell crank 242 pivots in a counter clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 13, and pivots the shaft 249 and the lever 281 in a counter clockwise direction to the position seen in' FIGQ 17A. Thispivotal movement of the lever 281 effectively impels the stop member 278 downwardly to a position in which the stop member contacts the'top of the table 215. Consequently, the stop member is efiective to halt movement of the next magazine 2501' the like being ,fedalo'ng the conveyor, holding the magazine in thedesired positionfo'r a printing operation. In many. instances, the magazine, newspaper, or other article may tendto bounce away from the stop member 278 to asub'stantial extent; This tendency toward bouncing or reverse movement of the magazine is elfectively overcome by the additional stopmembers 304 and 305, which prevent any substantial rearward movement of tlieflm'agazine along the conveyor.

It is important to note the direction of movement of the stop member 278 with respect to the direction of movement of the magazines'along' the conveyor portion 22 of the machine. Thus, and particularly as illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 17A, the stop member278 pivots, from the elevated position shown in FIG. .17, in a direction which is opposedto the direction of movement of the magazine, indicated by the arrow 26. Consequently, as the stop member returns, from the stop position (FIG. 17A) to the elevated position (FIG. 17),.it moves in substantially the same direction as the magazine 25. Accordingly, there islittle or no tendency for the magazine to bind against the stop member. asithe stop member is released, with the result that thelmagazine moves freely along the conveyor as soon asthe stop member is actuated toward upwardmovem'ent'.

In order that the feede'rF will be effective to position one of the magazines or other articles 25 in the printing station S of the printing machine A duringthe proper time in each operating cycle of the printing machine, it is necessary that some meausbe provided to coordinate or synchronize the operation of the feeder with that of the printing machine. In the' present invention, this synchronization is accomplished by a single electrical connection between the printing machine A and the feeder F; no mechanical operating connection is employed between'the two machines. A typical arrangement which may be employed to synchronize the printing and feeding mechanisms is illustrated in FIGURES 25 and 26, which relate to a printing machine substantially as describedin the aforementioned Patent No. 2,359,851 to Hueber.

FIGURE 26 is a fragmentary View of a portion of the printing machine A and corresponds to he right hand end of FIGURE 12 in the above notedHeuber patent. Thus, FIGURE 25 shows the one-revolution clutch 350 which is utilized to drive the printing mechanism of the addressing machine A througha print cycle. The clutch includes a drive member 351 and a driven member 352; the driven member 352 is rotated through a single revolution during each printing cycle of the addressing machine. The control arrangementfor the clutch 350 may be of-the kind described in detail in the patent. Accordingly, a description of the clutch operation is not necessary herein.

The portion of the printing machine illustrated in FIG- URES 25 and 26 also includes a mounting bracket 353 which is substantially similar to the bearing bracket described in the Hueber patent and which is utilized, in the present instance, to support a synchronizingswitch mech- 

